Network Peering Services Provider, LINX, Hosts Global Business Forum

London, United Kingdom – (The Hosting News) – March 27, 2008 – The London Internet Exchange (LINX), will co-host the 4 day Global Peering Forum 3.0 In Miami, where network exchange providers may enhance peering relationships.

The event will be attended by 190 global peering coordinators from around the world. LINX is joined by partners Equinix, Switch and Data, Terremark, AMS-IX and DE-CIX in hosting this forum designed to examine the latest technical developments in the industry.

Launched in 2006, the Global Peering Forum has brought together peering coordinators from North America, Europe, South America, and Asia in a neutral environment to discuss interconnection of their autonomous networks. In addition, participants will hear in-depth presentations from industry experts on peering rollouts, policies, trends and general technical topics of interest to the peering coordinator community.

John Souter, Chief Executive Officer at LINX commented, ”We at LINX have always been committed to the work of the peering community so we are pleased to be supporting the Global Peering Forum. As the impact of the Internet in everyday life increases, it is vital that peering professionals come together to exchange ideas and technical knowledge to meet customer demands and anticipate future trends. We are delighted to be working alongside many of the world’s leading Internet Exchanges at this event.”

Peering is defined as a way to exchange data between networks on a settlement free or partial settlement basis. Internet service providers and content delivery service providers transfer data between each other at locations called peering points or Internet Exchanges. At these sites, routers transfer messages between backbones using layer 2 switches or other dynamic interconnection systems. These systems are globally tied together by connecting high-capacity fiber optic lines owned by network service providers. Attendance at the forum, which will be held from March 31 through April 3, is by invitation only and limited to peering coordinators.

LINX now has members in over 40 countries and territories. It is interesting to note that while a large proportion of members come from the traditional LINX heartland of Europe, the gap with the rest of the world is beginning to close. Nearly a quarter of all members are now based outside Europe with those in North America equating to 14.7% with a further 7.5% coming from Africa, the Middle East, Asia and Oceania.

LINX recently presented its Conspicuous Contribution Award, to Dr Richard Clayton, an academic at Cambridge University and consultant for LINX member, THUS plc (incorporating founding LINX member, Demon Internet). The presentation was made during the recent LINX member meeting at the Goodenough College in London in November and judging by the warm reception given to Dr. Clayton by the delegates, it was a very popular decision indeed. The ‘Conspicuous Contribution’ prize was first given in 2006 to Nigel Titley of Easynet who was a LINX council member from its 1994 formation through to 2006.

LINX is a mutual organization owned and consisting of approximately 250 Internet service providers and content delivery service providers. It allows competing networks to exchange Internet traffic cost-effectively, bringing speed and efficiency benefits to their customers. The LINX platform enables access to Internet routes, reaching more countries, than any other public peering point. LINX operates in a regulatory and policy environment that is supportive of network operators and the Internet community, which it strives to maintain and reinforce through its Public Affairs activities. The LINX network includes over 550 connected member ports, over 50 member-facing 10GigE ports, and over 150Gb/sec of peak traffic.